Jaw-brace.



A. R. DE PAS$.

JAW BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1912.

1,0813%, Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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ATES PATENT orrron.

ADDISON R. DE PASS, OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

J'AW-BRAGE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON R. De PAss, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Columbia, county of Ttichland, State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jaw-Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for holding the mouth of a person open and is particularly adapted for use by dentists.

It has been my purpose to make a device which will be of simple construction which can be manufactured at small cost and which will effectively perform the functions for which it is designed.

The novel features of the device will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my jaw brace; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a side view of the brace bent to the position which it will occupy in use; Fig. {L is a cross section on the line 4 'l of Fig. 2.

My jaw brace includes a body portion 1 which is made in elongated shape sufficiently wide to cover a row of teeth and it is preferably made of soft elastic rubber so that it may easily bend. One face 2 is preferably made straight and it has near each end side flanges 3 which serve the purpose of preventing the brace from being laterally displaced when in position on the row of teeth. The body portion is preferably reduced in thickness at the central portion 4 and is gradually thickened toward the end, the thickening being produced on a curve as shown and the outer rear faces being rounded at the ends. The flat straight face is roughened between the flanges so as to pre vent slipping on the teeth.

The entire device is made of soft rubber and can be bent into the form shown in Fig. 3 for the purpose of inserting it in the mouth of a patient between the upper and lower rows of teeth, the central bent portion a being inserted first in the mouth so that the ends containing the flanges will be to the front when in actual use. It will be observed that when so bent the face 2 of the end portions are at an angle to each other and the resiliency of the body portion will tend to press the jaws of the patient apart. The side flanges 3 and the roughened Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 12, 1912.

Patented 1)ec.'16, 1913. Serial No. 690,400.

portion 5 will keep the device in proper p0- sltion and the pressure will be exerted principally near the ends of the bent body portion rather than back in near the hinge of the jaw. The strength and resiliency of the brace may be accurately gaged by the thickness of the central portion 4: so that it will not exert too great an opening pressure on the jaw.

In order to prevent the patient from accidenftally swallowing the brace, particularly when under the influence of an anesthetic, an opening 6 may be made in the ma terial of the body portion and a cord may be attached to the article through this opening.

Having described my invention what- I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Pat ent is,

l. A jaw brace adapted to hold the mouth of a patient open, composed of an elongated body portion of soft elastic rubber thinner at the center than toward the ends and adapted to be folded with the end portions resting against the upper and lower rows of teeth.

2. A jaw brace adapted to hold the mouth of a patient open, composed of an elongated body portion of soft elastic rubber adapted to be folded with the end portions resting against the upper and lower rows of teeth, the said end portions having means for preventing them from slipping off of the teeth.

A jaw brace adapted to hold the mouth of a patient open, composed of an elongated body portion of soft elastic rubber adapted to be folded with the end portions resting against the upper and lower rows of teeth, the said end portions having longitudinal side flanges to prevent lateral displacement.

4. A jaw brace adapted to hold the mouth of a patient open, composed of an elongated body portion of soft elastic rubber adapted to be folded with the end portions resting against the upper and lower rows of teeth, the said end portions having longitudinal side flanges to prevent lateral displacement and a roughened portion between said side flanges.

5. A jaw brace adapted to hold the mouth of a patient open, comprising an elongated body portion of soft elastic rubber reduced in thickness at its central portion and adapted. to be doubled on itself longitudinally,

bending at the reduced portion, whereby the ing thicker toward said ends than at the end portions may fit longitudinally against central part. 10 the upper and lower rows of teeth. In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- 6. A aW brace adapted to hold the mouth ture in presence of two witnesses. of a patient open, comprising an elongated ADDISON R. DE PASS. body portion of soft elastic rubber having Vitnesses: one straight side with longitudinal flanges F. M. DURHAM, at the edge near the ends the said body be- L. O. GRIFFITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

